System, method and apparatus for integrated water management of a basement

ABSTRACT

A system for integrated water management of a basement is disclosed. The basement has a footer, a wall extending upward from the footer, and a sill plate on top of the wall. The system may include a sill plate barrier with a base located between the sill plate and the wall. The system may include a vertical barrier coupled to the sill plate barrier and extending downward along an exterior of the wall toward the footer. In addition, the system may have a footer barrier coupled to the vertical barrier and extending over an exterior of the footer. The system may include a drain member adjacent the exterior of the footer and coupled to the footer barrier. In one version, the sill plate barrier, vertical barrier, footer barrier and drain member collectively form the integrated water management system for the exterior of the basement to prevent water intrusion.

This application claims priority to and the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/326,199, filed on Apr. 22, 2016. The present invention relates in general to basements and, in particular, to a system, method and apparatus for integrated water management of a basement.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Field of the Disclosure

The present invention relates in general to basements and, in particular, to a system, method and apparatus for integrated water management of a basement.

Description of the Prior Art

In conventional basement construction, a footer is initially formed from poured concrete between forms at the bottom perimeter of the basement. Walls of the basement are then formed from poured concrete, also between forms, on top of the at least partially-cured footer. A sill plate is then attached to the top of the wall, for attachment of the structure located above the basement. Since at least a portion of basements is located underground, water seepage into basements can be a problem. Numerous prior art devices and systems exist for mitigating water seepage into basements. However, improvements in water management of basements continue to be of interest.

SUMMARY

Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for integrated water management of a basement are disclosed. The basement may include a footer, a wall extending upward from the footer, and a sill plate on top of the wall. In an example, the system may have a sill plate barrier with a base located between the sill plate and the wall. The system may include a vertical barrier coupled to the sill plate barrier and extending downward along an exterior of the wall toward the footer. In addition, the system may have a footer barrier coupled to the vertical barrier and extending over an exterior of the footer. The system may include a drain member adjacent the exterior of the footer and may be coupled to the footer barrier. In one version, the sill plate barrier, vertical barrier, footer barrier and drain member collectively form the integrated water management system for the basement to prevent water intrusion from the sill plate to the footer.

In another embodiment, a kit for integrated water management for a basement may include a sill plate barrier configured to extend between the sill plate and the wall. The kit may have a vertical barrier configured to be coupled to the sill plate barrier and configured to extend downward along the wall toward the footer. In addition, the kit may include a footer barrier configured to be coupled to the vertical barrier and configured to extend over the footer. Further, the kit may have a drain member configured to be placed adjacent the footer and configured to be coupled to the footer barrier. Collectively, the sill plate barrier, vertical barrier, footer barrier and drain member may be configured to form a kit for integrated water management for a basement to prevent water intrusion at the sill plate, wall and footer.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of these embodiments will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the appended claims and the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

So that the manner in which the features and advantages of the embodiments are attained and can be understood in more detail, a more particular description may be had by reference to the embodiments thereof that are illustrated in the appended drawings. However, the drawings illustrate only some embodiments and therefore are not to be considered limiting in scope as there may be other equally effective embodiments.

FIG. 1 is a top, front, isometric view of an embodiment of a water management system for a basement.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged, top, front, isometric view of an upper portion of the embodiment of the water management system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged, top, front, isometric view of a lower portion of the embodiment of the water management system of FIG. 1.

FIG. 4 is a top, isometric view of a poured concrete footer formed with a portion of the water management system of FIG. 1.

FIGS. 5 and 6 are top, front, isometric views of two different embodiments of a window well barrier for the water management system of FIG. 1.

The use of the same reference symbols in different drawings indicates similar or identical items.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of a system, method and apparatus for integrated water management of a basement are disclosed. For example, one version of a system 11 for integrated water management for an exterior of a basement is shown in FIG. 1. The basement may include a footer 13, a wall 15 extending upward from the footer, and a sill plate 17 on top of the wall 15. In a structure, such as a dwelling, these components of the basement may extend to form one or more enclosed rooms beneath the ground floor of the structure.

Embodiments of the system 11 may include a sill plate barrier 21 having a base 23 (FIG. 2) located between the sill plate 17 and the wall 15. Examples of the sill plate barrier 21 may include a vertical member 25 extending upward from the base 23 on an exterior side of the sill plate 17. In this way, the vertical member 25 may be configured to direct water away from the sill plate 17 (and away from the interior of the basement) to a vertical barrier 31 (FIG. 1).

Versions of the vertical barrier 31 may be coupled to the sill plate barrier 21. The vertical barrier 31 can extend downward along an exterior of the wall 15 toward the footer 13. For example, the sill plate barrier 21 may include a rib 27 (FIG. 2) extending horizontally across a lower width thereof. Versions of the vertical barrier 31 may comprise a complementary groove 33 extending horizontally across an upper width thereof. The rib 27 may be configured to seat in the groove 33 to couple the sill plate barrier 21 to the vertical barrier 31.

Conversely, the sill plate barrier 21 may comprise a groove (not shown, but an inverted version of the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 2) extending horizontally across a lower width thereof. The vertical barrier 31 may include a rib (not shown, but similar to rib 27 in FIG. 2) extending horizontally across an upper width thereof. Similarly, the rib may be configured to seat in the groove to couple the vertical barrier 31 to the sill plate barrier 21.

In still another embodiment, the sill plate barrier 21 and the vertical barrier 31 each may include at least one of dimples and recesses (not shown). The dimples and recesses may be interlocked to secure the vertical barrier 31 to the sill plate barrier 21. In addition, the vertical barrier 31 may include stand-offs 35 for maintaining a space between a sheet portion 37 of the vertical barrier 31 and the wall 15. In yet another embodiment, the sill plate barrier 21 and the vertical barrier 31 may be integrally formed as a unitary structure.

Embodiments of the system 11 may further include a footer barrier 41 (FIG. 1). The footer barrier 41 may be coupled to the vertical barrier 31 and extend over an exterior of the footer 13. Like the complementary mating features of the sill plate barrier 21 and the vertical barrier 31 described above, the vertical barrier 31 and the footer barrier 41 may be compatibly secured to each other as well. For example, the vertical barrier 31 may include a groove 39 (FIG. 3) extending horizontally across a lower width thereof. The footer barrier 41 may have a complementary rib 43 extending horizontally across an upper width thereof. The rib 43 may be configured to seat in the groove 39 to couple the vertical barrier 31 to the footer barrier 41.

In an alternate version, the vertical barrier 31 may comprise a rib (not shown) extending horizontally across a lower width thereof. The footer barrier may have a groove (not shown) extending horizontally across an upper width thereof. The rib may be configured to seat in the groove to couple the vertical barrier 31 to the footer barrier 41.

In still another embodiment, each of the vertical barrier 31 and the footer barrier 41 may include at least one of dimples and recesses (not shown). The dimples and recesses may interlock with each other to secure the vertical barrier 31 to the footer barrier 41.

Again referring to FIGS. 1 and 3, the system 11 may further comprise a drain member 51 adjacent the exterior of the footer 13. The drain member 51 may be coupled to the footer barrier 41. Alternatively, the vertical barrier 31 and the drain member 51 may be configured to be coupled directly to each other (not shown), such as by the devices described elsewhere herein.

Embodiments of the footer barrier 41 may include an anchor 45 (FIG. 3) that extends horizontally across a lower width thereof. The drain member 51 may comprise a groove 53 extending horizontally across an upper portion thereof. The anchor 45 may be configured to seat in and be retained by the groove 53 to couple the footer barrier 41 to the drain member 51.

Alternatively, the footer barrier 41 may comprise a groove (not shown) extending horizontally across a lower width thereof. The drain member 51 may include an anchor (not shown) extending horizontally across an upper portion thereof. The anchor may be configured to seat in and be retained by the groove to couple the footer barrier 41 to the drain member 51. In yet another embodiment, the vertical barrier 31 and the drain member 51 may be integrally formed as a unitary structure.

Thus, collectively, the sill plate barrier 21, vertical barrier 31, footer barrier 41 and drain member 51 may form the integrated water management system 11 for the basement. In an example, the system can protect primarily the exterior of the basement to prevent water intrusion from above the sill plate 17, along the wall 15 and at or below the footer 13.

In some embodiments, the drain member 51 also may be configured to be a concrete form for poured concrete. For example, as shown in FIG. 4, the drain member 51 may be provided with sufficient structural rigidity to maintain hydraulic loads of wet concrete (e.g., of footer 13) without flexing when the drain member 51 is pinned to the ground at least about every 8 feet when backfilled with and supported by gravel 55. Embodiments of the system 11 may further comprise an interior drain member 57 (e.g., substantially identical to drain member 51) that is configured to be adjacent to an interior of the footer 13 on an opposite side of the footer 13 and the wall 15 (FIG. 1). Together, the drain member 51 and the interior drain member 57 may comprise the concrete form for poured concrete for the footer 13. The drain members 51, 57 can remain permanently installed with the basement.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the basement also may include a basement window 19 formed in the wall 15. For such applications, the system 11 may further include a window well barrier 61. In one version, the window well barrier 61 may be configured to be coupled to the wall 15 at the basement window 19. In another version, the window well barrier 61 also may be configured to be coupled to other components of the system 11, such as the vertical barrier 31. The window well barrier 61 may include mounting members 63 configured to mount the window well barrier 61 to an exterior surface of the wall 15, such as adjacent to but spaced apart from the basement window 19. The window well barrier 61 may further comprise a window well conduit 65 configured to drain fluid from the window well barrier 61 to the drain member 51. The window well conduit 65 may include a tube extending from a lower end of the window well barrier 61 down to the drain member 51. Collectively, the sill plate barrier 21, vertical barrier 31, footer barrier 41, drain member 51 and the window well barrier 61 may be configured to form the integrated water management system 11.

Alternatively, an embodiment of the window well barrier 67 (FIG. 6) may include a window frame 69. For example, the window frame 69 may be configured to be a concrete form in the wall 15 when the wall 15 is formed from poured concrete.

Embodiments of a kit for integrated water management for a basement also are disclosed. As previously described, the basement may include the footer 13, wall 15 extending upward from the footer 13, and the sill plate 17 on top of the wall 15. For example, the kit may include the sill plate barrier 21 configured to extend between the sill plate 17 and the wall 15. The kit may include the vertical barrier 31 configured to be coupled to the sill plate barrier 21 and configured to extend downward along the wall 15 toward the footer 13. In addition, the kit may include the footer barrier 41 configured to be coupled to the vertical barrier 31 and configured to extend over the footer 13. Further, the kit may include the drain member 51 configured to be placed adjacent the footer 13 and configured to be coupled to the footer barrier 41. Collectively, the sill plate barrier 21, vertical barrier 31, footer barrier 41 and drain member 51 may be configured to form a kit for integrated water management for a basement to prevent water intrusion at the sill plate 17, wall 15 and footer 13. The kit may or may not include the window well barrier 61, 67.

Referring again to FIG. 1, the system 11 may further include a drain pipe 71. The drain pipe 71 may be located outside of the basement. In an example, the drain pipe 71 may be coupled to the system 11, such as to the drain member 51. The drain pipe 71 may extend away from the system 11 on grade (i.e., downslope from system 11) to direct water in that direction. In addition, the drain pipe 71 may extend to a sewer 73 or open ground. In another embodiment, the basement may have a sump pump 75 in an interior thereof for removing water from the interior of the basement. The system 11 may further include a cross-over pipe 77. The cross-over pipe 77 may be coupled to the sump pump 75. The cross-over pipe 77 also may be coupled to the drain member 51, and/or to the drain pipe 71 for directing water from the interior of the basement to an exterior of the basement.

This written description uses examples to disclose the embodiments, including the best mode, and also to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention. The patentable scope is defined by the claims, and may include other examples that occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intended to be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elements that do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if they include equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differences from the literal languages of the claims.

Note that not all of the activities described above in the general description or the examples are required, that a portion of a specific activity may not be required, and that one or more further activities may be performed in addition to those described. Still further, the order in which activities are listed are not necessarily the order in which they are performed.

In the foregoing specification, the concepts have been described with reference to specific embodiments. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of invention.

As used herein, the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” “including,” “has,” “having” or any other variation thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion. For example, a process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises a list of features is not necessarily limited only to those features but may include other features not expressly listed or inherent to such process, method, article, or apparatus. Further, unless expressly stated to the contrary, “or” refers to an inclusive-or and not to an exclusive-or. For example, a condition A or B is satisfied by any one of the following: A is true (or present) and B is false (or not present), A is false (or not present) and B is true (or present), and both A and B are true (or present).

Also, the use of “a” or “an” are employed to describe elements and components described herein. This is done merely for convenience and to give a general sense of the scope of the invention. This description should be read to include one or at least one and the singular also includes the plural unless it is obvious that it is meant otherwise.

Benefits, other advantages, and solutions to problems have been described above with regard to specific embodiments. However, the benefits, advantages, solutions to problems, and any feature(s) that may cause any benefit, advantage, or solution to occur or become more pronounced are not to be construed as a critical, required, or essential feature of any or all the claims.

After reading the specification, skilled artisans will appreciate that certain features are, for clarity, described herein in the context of separate embodiments, may also be provided in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are, for brevity, described in the context of a single embodiment, may also be provided separately or in any subcombination. Further, references to values stated in ranges include each and every value within that range. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A system for integrated water management for an exterior of a basement, the basement having a footer, a wall extending upward from the footer, and a sill plate on top of the wall, the system comprising: a sill plate barrier having a base located between the sill plate and the wall; a vertical barrier coupled to the sill plate barrier and extending downward along an exterior of the wall toward the footer; a footer barrier coupled to the vertical barrier and extending over an exterior of the footer; a drain member adjacent the exterior of the footer and coupled to the footer barrier; and collectively, the sill plate barrier, vertical barrier, footer barrier and drain member form an integrated water management system for the exterior of the basement to prevent water intrusion at the sill plate, wall and footer.
 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sill plate barrier comprises a vertical member extending upward from the base on an exterior of the sill plate, such that the vertical member is configured to direct water away from the sill plate to the vertical barrier.
 3. The system of claim 1, wherein the sill plate barrier comprises a rib extending horizontally across a lower width thereof, the vertical barrier comprises a groove extending horizontally across an upper width thereof, and the rib seats in the groove to couple the sill plate barrier to the vertical barrier.
 4. The system of claim 1, wherein the sill plate barrier comprises a groove extending horizontally across a lower width thereof, the vertical barrier comprises a rib extending horizontally across an upper width thereof, and the rib seats in the groove to couple the vertical barrier to the sill plate barrier.
 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the sill plate barrier and the vertical barrier each comprise at least one of dimples and recesses, and the dimples and recesses are interlocking to secure the vertical barrier to the sill plate barrier.
 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical barrier and the footer barrier each comprise at least one of dimples and recesses, and the dimples and recesses are interlocking to secure the vertical barrier to the footer barrier.
 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical barrier and the drain member also are configured to be coupled directly to each other.
 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical barrier comprises a rib extending horizontally across a lower width thereof, the footer barrier comprises a groove extending horizontally across an upper width thereof, and the rib seats in the groove to couple the vertical barrier to the footer barrier.
 9. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical barrier comprises a groove extending horizontally across a lower width thereof, the footer barrier comprises a rib extending horizontally across an upper width thereof, and the rib seats in the groove to couple the vertical barrier to the footer barrier.
 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the footer barrier comprises an anchor extending horizontally across a lower width thereof, the drain member comprises a groove extending horizontally across an upper portion thereof, and the anchor seats in and is retained by the groove to couple the footer barrier to the drain member.
 11. The system of claim 1, wherein the footer barrier comprises a groove extending horizontally across a lower width thereof, the drain member comprises an anchor extending horizontally across an upper portion thereof, and the anchor seats in and is retained by the groove to couple the footer barrier to the drain member.
 12. The system of claim 1, wherein the drain member also is a concrete form for poured concrete, the drain member having sufficient structural rigidity to maintain hydraulic loads of wet concrete without flexing when the drain member is pinned to the ground at least about every 8 feet when backfilled with and supported by gravel.
 13. The system of claim 12, further comprising an interior drain member configured to be adjacent an interior of the footer on an opposite side of the footer and the wall, and together the drain member and the interior drain member comprise the concrete form for poured concrete for the footer.
 14. The system of claim 1, wherein the basement also has a basement window formed in the wall, and the system further comprises: a window well barrier configured to be coupled to the wall at the basement window and configured to be coupled to the vertical barrier; and collectively, the sill plate barrier, vertical barrier, footer barrier, drain member and the window well barrier are configured to form the integrated water management system.
 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the window well barrier comprises mounting members configured to mount the window well barrier to an exterior surface of the wall adjacent to but spaced apart from the basement window.
 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the window well barrier comprises a window frame configured to be a concrete form in the wall when the wall is formed from poured concrete.
 17. The system of claim 14, wherein the window well barrier further comprises a window well conduit configured to drain fluid to the drain member.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the window well conduit comprises a tube extending from a lower end of the window well barrier to the drain member.
 19. The system of claim 1, wherein the vertical barrier comprises stand-offs for maintaining a space between a sheet portion of the vertical barrier and the wall.
 20. The system of claim 1, further comprising a drain pipe outside the basement, wherein the drain pipe is coupled to the drain member and extends away from the system on grade.
 21. The system of claim 20, wherein the basement has a sump pump for removing water from an interior of the basement, and the system further comprises: a cross-over pipe coupled to the sump pump and to the drain pipe for directing water from the interior of the basement to an exterior of the basement.
 22. A kit for integrated water management for a basement, the basement having a footer, a wall extending upward from the footer, and a sill plate on top of the wall, the kit comprising: a sill plate barrier configured to extend between the sill plate and the wall; a vertical barrier configured to be coupled to the sill plate barrier and configured to extend downward along the wall toward the footer; a footer barrier configured to be coupled to the vertical barrier and configured to extend over the footer; a drain member configured to be placed adjacent the footer and configured to be coupled to the footer barrier; and collectively, the sill plate barrier, vertical barrier, footer barrier and drain member are configured to form a kit for integrated water management for a basement to prevent water intrusion at the sill plate, wall and footer. 